Embodying God's Love in Our Faith Journey
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! It's wonderful to see you all back after a week off, and I'm thrilled to share that I've been discharged from physical therapy following my knee replacement. Today, we have a lot of announcements and activities lined up, including early voting reminders, a book study on "The Gifts of Imperfection," and our Blessed Peace Prayer Group meeting. We also welcomed new members into our congregation, emphasizing that membership is about serving and giving back to the community.
Our scripture reading today is from 1 John 4:8-9, which reminds us that God is love, and to know God, we must know love. This ties into our August series, "The Faith We Sing," where we explore different genres of music. This week, we delved into boy bands, learning about their characteristics and how they are tightly controlled, much like some faith communities.
The main message today is about the importance of love in our faith. Faith communities often get caught up in rigid belief systems, but we must focus on the ongoing search for understanding and experiencing God. God is love, and this love is for everyone, not just a select few. When we fail to love, we move away from understanding God. Our role is to show up with love, as this is how others will experience God's presence.
We also discussed how God's love is always seeking us, even when we are not actively seeking God. This constant pursuit by God is a testament to His unconditional love. We are called to embody this love and bring salvation back to the world through our actions and words. Remember, if love is in it, God is in it.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Love is Universal: God's love is for everyone, not just a select few. When we fail to love, we move away from understanding God. This universal love calls us to love even those who are difficult to love, reflecting God's unconditional love for us. [48:05]
2. Faith Communities and Belief Systems: Faith communities often develop rigid belief systems that can become more important than the ongoing search for understanding God. We must challenge ourselves to remain open to new revelations and understandings of God, rather than being stuck in a fixed belief system. [43:10]
3. Showing Up with Love: Our presence and actions should telegraph God's love. Many people may never seek God on their own, so it is through our loving actions that they will experience God's presence. This is a challenging but essential part of our faith journey. [50:48]
4. God is Always Seeking Us: God's love is proactive; He is always seeking us, even when we are not actively seeking Him. This constant pursuit is a testament to God's unconditional love and should comfort us, knowing that we are always loved and sought after by God. [55:00]
5. Bringing Salvation Back: We are called to bring salvation back to the world through acts of love. Whether you believe in traditional doctrines or not, the essence of our faith is to embody love in all our actions and words. This is how we bring God's presence into the world. [58:29]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[10:35] - Early Voting and Announcements
[13:44] - Book Study on "The Gifts of Imperfection"
[14:39] - Blessed Peace Prayer Group
[15:50] - Pastor Chats and Budget Update
[19:56] - Rite of Membership
[21:23] - Profession of Faith and Commitment
[23:41] - Welcoming New Members
[36:12] - Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:8-9
[36:57] - Introduction to "The Faith We Sing" Series
[37:33] - Learning About Boy Bands
[39:52] - Characteristics of Boy Bands
[42:09] - Faith Communities and Belief Systems
[45:41] - God's Love and Our Understanding
[47:43] - Love is for All
[50:48] - Showing Up with Love
[55:00] - God's Love is Always Seeking Us
[58:29] - Bringing Salvation Back
[01:22:56] - Closing Announcements and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 John 4:8-9 (NIV): "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 John 4:8-9, what is the relationship between knowing God and love?
2. What does the passage say about how God demonstrated His love for us?
3. In the sermon, what were some characteristics of boy bands that were compared to faith communities? [39:52]
4. How did the pastor describe the role of love in understanding and experiencing God? [47:43]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the passage in 1 John 4:8-9 emphasize that knowing God is intrinsically linked to love?
2. How does the concept of God’s love being universal challenge traditional belief systems within faith communities? [48:05]
3. What does it mean to "show up with love" in practical terms, according to the sermon? [50:48]
4. How can the idea that "God is always seeking us" provide comfort and assurance in our daily lives? [55:00]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to love someone. How did that experience affect your understanding of God’s love? [48:37]
2. The sermon mentioned that faith communities can become too focused on rigid belief systems. How can you personally stay open to new revelations and understandings of God? [43:10]
3. Think of a specific way you can "show up with love" in your community this week. What actions will you take to ensure others experience God’s presence through you? [50:48]
4. How does knowing that "God is always seeking us" change your perspective on your relationship with God? What steps can you take to be more aware of God’s pursuit in your life? [55:00]
5. The pastor emphasized that "if love is in it, God is in it." How can you apply this principle in your interactions at work, home, or church? [01:00:06]
6. In what ways can you contribute to bringing "salvation back" through acts of love in your daily life? [58:29]
7. Identify one person in your life who may not actively seek God. How can you demonstrate God’s love to them this week? [51:18]
Devotional
Day 1: God's Love is for Everyone
God's love is not limited to a select few; it is universal and unconditional. This means that we are called to love everyone, even those who are difficult to love. When we fail to love, we move away from understanding God. The essence of our faith is to embody this universal love in our daily lives. This can be challenging, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and for bringing God's presence into the world. Remember, if love is in it, God is in it. [48:05]
1 John 4:16 (ESV): "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show God's unconditional love to them today?
Day 2: Challenging Rigid Belief Systems
Faith communities often develop rigid belief systems that can become more important than the ongoing search for understanding God. These fixed systems can limit our spiritual growth and our ability to experience new revelations of God. It is crucial to remain open to new understandings and to challenge ourselves to grow beyond these rigid structures. This openness allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and to share it more effectively with others. [43:10]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What is one belief or tradition in your faith community that you find rigid? How can you approach it with an open heart and mind to seek a deeper understanding of God?
Day 3: Showing Up with Love
Our presence and actions should telegraph God's love to those around us. Many people may never seek God on their own, so it is through our loving actions that they will experience God's presence. This is a challenging but essential part of our faith journey. By showing up with love in our daily interactions, we become vessels of God's love and bring His presence into the world. [50:48]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: Think of a specific way you can show God's love to someone today. How can your actions reflect His love and presence?
Day 4: God's Proactive Love
God's love is proactive; He is always seeking us, even when we are not actively seeking Him. This constant pursuit is a testament to God's unconditional love and should comfort us, knowing that we are always loved and sought after by God. This understanding should inspire us to seek God more actively and to share His love with others. [55:00]
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How did you experience His proactive love during that time?
Day 5: Bringing Salvation Back
We are called to bring salvation back to the world through acts of love. Whether you believe in traditional doctrines or not, the essence of our faith is to embody love in all our actions and words. This is how we bring God's presence into the world and fulfill our calling as His followers. By living out this love, we become instruments of God's salvation and grace. [58:29]
James 2:14-17 (ESV): "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
Reflection: What is one specific act of love you can do today to bring God's presence into the world? How can this act reflect God's salvation and grace?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "What is consistent. I don't know about you. But I like to find that. Where is the thread of consistency. That we can pull through. Count on it. Is that God is love. Yes. Even in the places in scripture. Where people are depicting God as vengeful. And judgmental. Sentences later. Always talk about God as love. So even in the contradictions of other things. That people believe God to be. What seems consistent. Is that God is love." [46:09] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God is love means. That love is for all. Not for some. Now all of us in this room agree. I don't think there is a single person who would say. Well that is not true. God's love is for all. Not for some. But we all if we are honest. Have moments. Where like. I got to love them. I got to find a way. To love that. Then it gets hard. It gets hard for all of us. It is not an easy call. To say love. God's love is for all. Not for some." [48:05] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "If we show up with love. God will be with us. God will be in the presence. God will be with the people around us. If we show up with love. Finally God's love. Is always seeking. Us. I want you to take heart in that. I think there are also some belief systems. Out there that suggest. If we aren't seeking God. We are not going to get any blessings. From God. I don't know about you. But I wouldn't have many blessings. If God waited on me all the time. To be the seeker." [55:00] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God is love. And God is seeking me. You see that? God is love. And God is with me. The next step. Is God is love. And God is in me. So the thing is. If I reject the idea. That God is seeking me. And God is loving me. Then I am also rejecting. My own ability. To give love away. So taking time every day. My friends. Even if it's five minutes. God is seeking me. God is seeking me. Not to get on me. Or find me doing something wrong. God is seeking me. In order to love me." [56:07] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So as we leave this place, let's remember that we have not just been to church, but we are to church. Let's remember that even though our worship is ending, our service just now begins. So my friends, go. For the whole world awaits you. Live passionately. Love faithfully. And make every single moment count from now until the grand finale. For the living God goes with you." [01:23:54] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I think inherently. There is nothing wrong with that. I might not agree with it. All the time. But it is every church's faith communities right. To work on its own set. Of understanding. Who God is. Here is where I do have. A little bit of a problem. Is when faith communities. Develop a belief system in such a way. That they are more invested. In their belief system. Than they are in learning. And understanding. And experiencing God. That their belief becomes their God. As opposed to an ongoing search. For who God is. Among us." [43:10] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If we want to be a church. A faith community. That wants to keep. Searching. For the divine. As opposed to saying. We have already found the divine. And that is it. Then we also have to challenge ourselves. In ways. That other faith communities. Never have to challenge themselves. And so I want us to. Look at that. A little bit today. So that we learn how to remain open. To new revelations. And new understandings of God." [45:11] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Love's purest expression. Is when we show up. And others experience. God's presence. Amen. That both inspires us. And makes us nervous. we are going to show up. In places where. Love. Will be the only way. That people have a chance. Of experiencing the presence. Of God. An awful lot of people. Are not in the business. Of trying to experience God every day. A lot of people. Have left that behind. And said. We are bogus. So the only way. That an awful lot of people. Are ever going to understand. God's presence. Is if we show up. In a loving place. Offering to give love." [50:12] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I am constantly challenged. When I go through. These comments. People who want to quote scripture to me. People who want to tell us. We are bad. We are going to hell. We are sinners. And worse. And they are doing it. In the name of God. They believe they have God behind them. And that is why they say it. Now I know they believe that. I know they do. And that is alright. I am just saying to you. That if we stand for love. We have to be loving. Even to these nasty comments." [53:24] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "I trust you. Wholeheartedly. To work on your own relationship with God. Or not. trust God to work with you. On that relationship. I don't feel any need. To tell you how it needs to go. The only thing I want to challenge. Is about. All of us. Me especially. Is that every act. Every word. Every deed. We might want to wait. A moment and say. Is love in it? Because if love's in it. God's in it. Say that with me. If love's in it. God's in it." [01:00:06] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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